Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Too beautiful

It might seem like lazy blogging to embed youtube videos, but really, this song I keep singing.

The first two verses come from an old hymn that I first came across in Tom Sawyer, in the chapter where he goes to church:

The minister gave out the hymn, and read it through with a relish, in a peculiar style which was much admired in that part of the country. His voice began on a medium key and climbed steadily up till it reached a certain point, where it bore with strong emphasis upon the topmost word and then plunged down as if from a spring-board:

Shall I be car-ri-ed to the skies, on flow'ry BEDS of ease,Whilst others fight to win the prize, and sail thro' BLOOD-y seas?

He was regarded as a wonderful reader. At church "sociables" he was always called upon to read poetry; and when he was through, the ladies would lift up their hands and let them fall helplessly in their laps, and "wall" their eyes, and shake their heads, as much as to say, "Words cannot express it; it is too beautiful, TOO beautiful for this mortal earth."

Am I a soldier of the cross,A follower of the lamb?And shall I fear to own His causeOr blush to speak His name?

Chorus:On the sea (the sea the sea)Of Galilee (of Galilee),My Jesus is walking on the sea.On the sea (the sea the sea)Of Galilee (of Galilee),My Jesus is walking on the sea.

Must I be carried to the skyOn flowery beds of easeWhile others fight to win the prizeAnd sail through bloody seas?

There shall I take my weary soulIn seas of heavenly restAnd not a wave of trouble rollAcross my peaceful breast.

Here is the Carter Family version as sung by Emmylou Harris and the Peasall Sisters (who appeared little girls in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? singing "I'll be somewhere a working for my Lord"):